Foot-protector.



C.'H OFMElSTjEB-, FOOT mom-210m 7 APPLICATION FILED rsis-v 5.1m.

Patented Nov. 21, 1916.

Mania)":

- weak or unable to stand the strains which ir v rw ilr an FOOT-PROTECTOR.

i ,soaeoa Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 21., 129?..6.

Application filed February 5, 1916. Serial No. 76,245.

tecting the foot against injury from strains or bruises and particularly to means for protecting the arch of the foot and the ankle; and it has for its object the production of a single device, which when joined with the shoe, protects both ,the arch of .the foot and the ankle from injuries resulting from undue strains or pressures.

My invention has for a further object, means in connection with the arch and ankle protector for preventing injury to the foot or ankle by undue bending upwardly e f-the foot, particularly when the ankle has previously been injured, or, for any reason, is

frequently follow the playing of games, such as foot-ball.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1, is a perspective viewof a shoe combined with my foot protector which embodies features of 'my invention. Fig. 21s a crosssection of the shoe and protector, along the lines 2-2 oi'Fig. l; and Fig. 3, is a detail view of a stop Which-forms a part of my invention.

The foot protector which I have invented comprises a plate 4, which is placed within v the shoe 5, beneath the insole 11, and extends from the heel to the central portion of the sole of the foot. and is properly formed to support thcsole of the foot from downward pressure which may be injurious or painful.

Fixed to each side of the sole-plate 4 are risers 6 projecting outwardly and upwardly from the plate andpositioned, in this particular-instance, between the uppers I and the counters 8 of the shoe. Pivot ed to the upper ends of the risers by means of pivots 9, or flexibly connected thereto in any suitable manner, are the ankle protectors 10, which extend upwardly on each side of the foot and rearwardly of the ankle and again upwardly to the upper portion of the shoe 5; the upperends or" the supports being connected by hand 12, which extends roarwardiy around the back of the upper portion of the ankle. By this arrangement, the ankle does not come in direct contact with the protectors 10, so as to be injured thereby, but it is so positioned with reference to the bend in the risers that it is at all times priitected from any crushing force and any injury that may result by the bending sidewise of the ankle. At the same time, with the flexible joint in the position shown, the foot is free to bend in its normal manner without any unnecessary hindrance.

The supporter may be placed in the shoe in any suitable manner, but in this instance, 1 have preferred to have the protectors 10 pass outwardly from the shoe immediately above the uppers 7 and as a further protection" to the wearer, and to improve the appearance of the shoe, I fasten outside of the risers straps of leather 13 extending from below the point of emergence of the supporter "from the shoe to the top of the shoe, as indicated in Fig. 1.

As further protection to the wearer, I provide stops 14, which prevent folding of the protector to such an extent as to cause injury to the foot. These stops may be formed in the flexible joint of the supporter in any suitable manner. In this instance, I provide stops 14: on the upper protectors 10 positioned so that they come in contact with the lower riser when the supporter is bent to the position shown in Fi By this means the foot is protected ii'om abnormal strains, particularly in the case of weak ankles or feet, or when the shoe is used under particularly hazardous conditions. When the shoe is snugly laced there is sufficient give so as to allow a certain amount of relative movement of the ankle; thus preventing injury because of too great rigidity, at the same time cracking of the tibia bone or ru ture of the minor blood vessels is pre- K111 ankle support comprising risers pivotally connected to said plate and extending upwardly and rearwardly back of and above the ankle of the wearer.

2. The combination of a shoe and a foot protector, said protector comprising a plate positioned inside of said shoe and extending llt from the heel to the central portion of the sole thereof, said plate having risers extending upwardly and said protector having ankle supporters pivoted to said risers and adapted to extending upwardly therefrom and rearwardly and then upwardly to the upper portion of said shoe.

8. The combination of a shoe and a foot protector, said protector comprising a plate positioned insideof from the heel to the central portion of the sole thereof, said plate having risers extending upwardly, and said protector having ankle supporters pivoted to said risers and extending rearwardly and upwardly to the upper portion of said shoe, said protector having a stop limiting the pivotal movement of said risers with reiierenoe to said plate.

4-. A foot protector comprising a plate be positioned :inside a shoe and extend from the heel to the central portion of the foot and curved to the shape of the sole of the foot, risers on each side of said plate, and ankle supporters pivotally connected to said risers and extending up wardly and rearwardly therefrom, anl a member connecting the upper ends of said supports extending rearwardly therefrom.

' 5. A foot protector comprising a plate adapted to extend from the heel to the central portion of the foot, risers on each side of said plate, and ankle supporters flexibly consaid shoe and extending nected to said risers, and extending upo'ardly and rearwardly therefrom, a Inember connecting the upper ends of said supports extending rearwardiy therefrom, and a stop limiting the relative movement of said supporters with reference to said plate.

6. A foot protector comprising a plate formed substantially to iit the rear portion of the sole of the foot and to be positioned inside a shoe, and ankle protectors flexibly connected to said plate at a point which will lie beneath the ankle of the wearer and formed to pass upwardly around and above the ankle of the wearer.

7. The combination of a shoe and a foot protector, said protector comprising a plate positioned inside of said shoe, said plate having risers extending: upwardly, and said protectors having ankle supporters pivoted to said risers and extending upwardly around and beyond the ankle joint of the wearer.

8. The combination of a shoe, an arch support, and an ankle support; the arch and ankle supports being pivotally connected, and the ankle support comprising risers extending upwardly around and above the ankle joint of the wearer, the arch suppor being within the shoe. I i

In testimony whereof, I hereunto set my hand.

CHARLES YLJQEMEISTER. 

